The NL Workforce Innovation Centre (NLWIC) has released its first set of final reports from completed NLWIC-funded Research Projects. The eight reports provide evidence of what works and what doesn’t when it comes to workforce development that can be used by labour market stakeholders to address their most pressing labour shortages.
“These reports will not sit on a shelf,” says Sharon McLennon, NLWIC Director. “These applied research projects were approved to experiment with new models of innovation in workforce development that will have a positive impact on the attachment of individuals – particularly underrepresented groups – to the labour market. The purpose is to share these new models so our labour market stakeholders can use this evidence to expand the workforce in our province.”
One of NLWIC’s six key activities mandated by the provincial government is to provide proposal-based funding for applied research projects that test innovative approaches to address labour market challenges and opportunities and improve outcomes in NL. There are
20 research projects funded to date by NLWIC following two Calls for Proposals in 2017 and 2018 totaling $7,663,736.
“The dedication and passion of the research teams of each proponent have been valuable contributions to the success of each research project,” says Joanne Kendrick, NLWIC Research and Innovation Project Coordinator. “The results and outcomes to date demonstrate valuable impacts on the proponent organizations, the communities where they operate and the participating underrepresented groups.”
The final reports from the eight completed projects are available to download from the
NLWIC website:
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Pathways to Work: Co-designing Improved Employment Pathways for Inuit Youth in Nunatsiavut, Social Research and Demonstration Corporation (SRDC)
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Evaluating the Short and Long Term Impacts of WRDC’s Employment Assistance Services and Career Development Programming, Women in Resource Development Corporation (WRDC)
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A Development and pilot testing of an innovative demand-led training model to support entry and retention in the Aquaculture sector, Social Research and Demonstration Corporation (SRDC)
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A Community Minded Social Enterprise: An Inquiry for Viability, Corner Brook Status of Women Council (CBSWC)
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Exploring Ways to Foster Innovation in Technology Entrepreneurship Through Increased Female Participation and Immigration Initiatives, Genesis
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Evidence for Community Employment Services: A Collaborative Regional Approach, Collective Interchange Cooperative
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Enhancing the Women in SETT Leadership Program in NL, Canadian Centre for Women in Science, Engineering, Trades and Technology (WinSETT Centre)
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Research on Barriers and Opportunities to Workforce Participation for Older Workers in Newfoundland and Labrador, St. John’s Board of Trade (SJBOT)
The remaining 12 projects will be completed between May 2022 and October 2023. NLWIC’s future dissemination plans include #tipoftheiceberg webinars, key stakeholder briefings and other events where stakeholders – employers, education and training providers, career and employment service providers and organizations who represent underrepresented groups – as well as members of the public, can ask questions and engage with the research proponents.
“The whole reason that NLWIC was created by government was to address changing labour market dynamics and to transform the workforce development ecosystem,” says McLennon. “Ultimately, we want this evidence to be adopted as new programs, policies and/or service delivery models, to be replicated where possible, and to be scaled up for an expanded, diverse, innovative, high-performing workforce to support economic growth and prosperity in the province now and into the future.”
